.webp)
As the prosecution of rioters at the Capitol continues, Ethan Nordean, leader of the far-right, white nationalist organization the Proud Boys, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Another proud boys member, Dominic Pezzola, who is known for smashing the first Capitol window and kickstarting the invasion into the building, has received a 10 year sentence.
Pezzola specifically has been charged not only on counts of assault, but also for robbery due to his attempts at stealing a police shield from capitol police. In a testimony from Capitol Policeman Mark Ode, Pezzola was described to have “violently and forcefully” grabbed his shield and pushed him to the ground, as well as trying to spray chemicals into the eyes of police officers and choke them using their helmet straps.
In a statement made to their judge during the trial, Pezzola claimed: “I never should have crossed the barrier at the Capitol that day, the first of many errors that day.. I stand before you with a heart full of regret. I can only acknowledge how reckless my actions were at the Capitol and how much they impacted the country.”
However, after the judge was seen leaving the room and Pezzola was escorted out, he shouted “Trump Won” to the jury. Another proud boys member, also on trial, described the event as a “political charade,” expressing hope that the results would be overturned in time for them to vote for Trump again in the 2024 election.
These decisions have been part of an ongoing investigation into the proud boys and subsequent sedition trials. Prior to these decisions, other members of the organization received sentences of 17 and 15 years, also on charges of sedition this past may.
The repeated dynamic between clearly unrepentant terrorists and their attempts to undermine the American justice system has made the current position of America’s far right much more clear; in the past, white supremacist/nationalist and anti-democratic organizations were far more discreet about their ideology. Many would euphemistically describe it as an attempt to “return to traditionalist society,” and would feign respect for police officers and the federal government, instead directing their ire towards racial minorities and pointing blame to them for the fall of America. While there is no shortage of racism amongst the Proud Boys, the testimony from these trials makes it clear that they are no longer making an effort to engage with even the most basic principles of law and order; they are trying to kill police officers and tear down all democratic structures within this country. When they are made to confront the inherently anti-american undercurrent of their own actions, they dismiss it and instead blame their behaviors on attempts to combat some mystical, nonexistent deep state that is secretly controlling all aspects of American society. There is no longer any attempt to cover up their fascist tendencies or their uncontrolled hunger for power.
This is almost directly analogous to the idea of the social contract which we discussed in class – any functioning society requires both the administrators and all others residing within it to agree upon a specific set of rules and a guiding ideology; in the case of America, these rules historically dictated we do not undermine our democracy. We do not attempt to kill those serving our country. We do not lead riots on government buildings. These basic principles, which are so key to ensuring we maintain a functioning democracy, were all but ubiquitous for decades even despite America’s historically tumultuous political landscape. The reactionary, radical political culture that has begun to fester within the GOP, however, is rendering our current position untenable; if this consistent, remorseless erosion of the social contract between the government and the American people continues, American society as a whole will steeply decline into chaos.
- Agastya
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/09/01/proud-boys-pezzola-nordean-sentencing-jan6/
5 comments:
It is highly concerning that far-right militant groups like the Proud Boys, who likely have no interest in the constitutional process, took Trump's words as a call to action on Jan 6th, two years ago. I think prosecuting the insurrectionists is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to illegitimize this type of behavior in far-right circles. The fact that he shouted "Trump won" while being escorted from the courtroom highlights that these far-right groups have likely not changed their attitudes toward the insurrection--even under intense prosecution. As there is currently news regarding possible attempts to stop Trump from running in 2024 under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, I'm worried how these groups would react if such attempts come to fruition given their history of violent reaction.
Agastaya-
I really like the connection you made with the basic fundamentals of democracy and the relationship between citizens and the government. I also find it appalling that some Americans believe they are being patriotic by attempting to influence a vote and overpower a democratic process. This relates to the ideas of factions and hyperpluralism. January 6th also reminds me of Shay's Rebellion, which we talked about in class recently. (These 2 events happened for very different reasons though)
-Chris L
The thing that is most telling is that these people are still holding on to the idea that Trump really won. What has to be remembered is that a lot of the "election steal" conspiracy theory has direct links to the wider QAnon conspiracy theory, and many of the people involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection were linked to QAnon circles (the "Shaman" anyone?), especially considering that up until the 2020 election, most QAnoners believed that Trump would be reelected in a landslide, which definitively did not happen. Once that didn't happen, many began making progressively more and more inane theories that Trump would somehow return and become president. The behavior of these people make it clear that they are getting desperate, possibly to the point of resorting again to outright force to reinstate Trump as president. One key component of the QAnon theory was that at some point, Trump and the military would take over and arrest all those involved in the "deep state" controlling America. It appears that the Jan. 6 insurrection may have been an attempt at making that prediction come to fruition. Frankly, I think trying to bar Trump from office will only embolden his supporters, since now they will get more fodder for their own crazed theories, and be able to say "See, I told you the deep state was trying to get Trump." The current decay of the GOP I think will only accelerate things. In the future, I could even see a party spilt between the pro-MAGA faction and the more moderate faction. Only time will tell though.
It's interesting how you mention that the far right is regressing into a more "traditionalist society," which becomes evident as conservative tones grow more and more bold as modernism and time goes on. Perhaps the far right has always held these beliefs, but their "preservation" of the pasts principles simply appear more ridiculous as with the contrast of a more liberal America. I think the far right's messages and tone also grows more jarring because they feel threatened by the left, and want to compensate with a shock factor, like storming the capital. So the fact that it feels like sort of a ridiculous performance is comforting, but also scary because it demonstrates the sheer amount of misguided and uncritical people exist in America. I also agree that they deteriorate the social contract of America, but they also attempt to skew the American process of fair government which "fought for." It seems people in the far right spread a different idea or contract/ belief that they should take back liberty, overuse it and be terroristic to exercise their "rights." Although these people feel truly American, their interpretation of equal principle is stifled with selfish interests and stubborn opinion, regressing to violence. Their deafness and dislike for compromise is a bad precedent for the right, and untruly American.
The leader of the Proud Boys group, Enrique Tarrio, was just sentenced to 22 years in prison, which is the longest penalty for anyone involved in the Capitol riot. What's interesting, is the fact that he wasn't actually at the riot. He was in Baltimore on January 6, after being arrested for burning a BLM banner. At the time of the riot, he was "watching events unfold from a distance and swapping texts with some of his subordinates as the pro-Trump mob...overran the Capitol." (NYT).
Both of these men appear to act innocent or remorseful in court, but after the case, they show their true colors again. Pezzola shouted that "Trump won," and Tarrio held up a peace sign in victory. It reveals how they really don't feel remorse to the chaos and violence they caused, and they are sending a message to their far-right supporters. Another one of the defendants, Joe Biggs, said after his trial: "We gotta stand up and fight -- don't give up," (NYT). It is apparent that these criminals are committed to their "Proud Boy" cause. As we have learned in class, I believe that the Proud Boys are a faction, or an interest group. And although the government has checks and balances and safeguards to protect it from being overthrown by factions, the Proud Boys have taken it into their own hands to terrorize and perhaps, in their minds, to change the election decision. It's ridiculous.
Post a Comment